KUALA LUMPUR: More than 9,000 new teachers will soon begin their service in schools nationwide for the Jan 2024 school term, says Deputy Education Minister Lim Hui Ying.

She said her ministry remains committed to ensure that the number of teachers will continue to increase based on the needs of schools after the issue of teacher shortage was also identified due to the cause of increased workload for existing teachers.

"We have received a number of new teacher positions from SPP (Education Service Commission) and they will report for duty early next year,” she said.

Lim added that the most significant shortage of teachers is for subjects like Bahasa Malaysia, English, Islamic Studies and Design and Technology (RBT).

"The ministry always strives to ensure the number of teachers will increase from time to time," she said in reply to a supplementary question from Dr Mohamed Taufiq Johari (PH-Sungai Petani) during Question Time.

Dr Mohammed Taufiq Johari (PH-Sungai Petani) had asked the Education Ministry to state whether the issue of teacher shortage, including the fact that many teachers are retiring earlier, resulted in an increased workload for existing teachers.

To another supplementary question from Datuk Ahmad Marzuk Shaary (PN-Pengkalan Chepa) regarding the welfare and infrastructure facilities for teachers in rural areas in view of the case of a school headmaster in Sabah having to live in the school storeroom, Lim said the ministry had taken the appropriate action on the matter.

"Follow-up action is being carried out to identify the cause of the incident and we will manage every issue as best possible," she added.